Emilio Sagi Liñán

Emilio Sagi Liñán (born Bolívar, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 15 March 1900; died Barcelona, 25 May 1951), was a former footballer who played as a left-winger for FC Barcelona, the Catalan XI and Spain during the 1920s and 1930s. He was the son of Emilio Sagi Barba, the Catalan baritone singer, and as a result, was widely referred to as Saggybaggy. During his playing career he played 455 games and scored 134 goals for FC Barcelona and is best remembered for forming a successful partnership with Paulino Alcántara. Together with Josep Samitier, Ricardo Zamora, Félix Sesúmaga and, later, Franz Platko they were prominent members of the successful FC Barcelona team coached by Jack Greenwell. His younger brother, Luís Sagi Vela, followed in his fathers footsteps and also became a successful baritone singer. His son, Victor Sagi, later ran one of the biggest advertising agencies in Spain and in 1978 announced his candidacy for the presidency of FC Barcelona, but withdrew before the election was held.

Childhood and Youth

Emilio was born in Argentina, where his father regularly toured and performed, but returned to Catalonia when he was three. He was educated at the Colegio Condal and Colegio Bonanova and his childhood friends included Salvador Dalí and Josep Samitier. During holidays at the Catalan resort of Cadaqués, the trio played football together. He also played football at school and as a junior with FC Catalònia, before joining FC Barcelona in 1915.

FC Barcelona

In 1917, as a 17-year-old, Emilio made his senior debut with FC Barcelona and during the 1918–19 season he helped the team win the Championat de Catalunya. In 1919 he left FC Barcelona to study in Terrassa and after getting married he briefly retired from the game. However in 1922 he rejoined FC Barcelona and embarked on a successful career which saw him win ten Championats de Catalunya, four Copa del Rey and the inaugural La Liga.

International career

Between 1922 and 1936 he played at least 15 games and scored at least 5 goals for the Catalan XI. However records from the era do not always include accurate statistics and he may have played and scored more. Together with Paulino Alcántara, Josep Samitier and Ricardo Zamora he helped the Catalan XI win an inter-regional competition, the Copa Princep de Asturies, three times during the 1920s. He scored in the 1924 final, a 4–4 draw with a Castile XI, before helping the Catalan XI win the replay 3–2 . He also played once for Spain, in a 4–2 win over Hungary in 1926.

Honours

FC Barcelona

• Spanish League: 1929

• Spanish Cup: 1922, 1925, 1926, 1928

• Catalan Champions: 1918–19, 1921–22, 1923–24, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1926–27, 1927–28, 1929–30, 1930–31, 1931–32

Catalan XI

• Copa Príncep d'Astúries: 1922, 1924, 1926

External links

• BDFutbol profile
• National team data (Spanish)
• FC Barcelona archives (Spanish)
• FC Barcelona profile